A new yellow graphic on Monday Night Football had football fans seeing red, and ESPN was able to pivot in a hurry.
During Monday’s game between the Texans and Saints in New Orleans, The Worldwide Leader debuted a neon yellow down-and-distance marker in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen which many found to be confusing.
The NFL graphics revamp by ESPN’s Creative Services team includes a new #MNF dashboard this season. A notable addition is the neon yellow “venom” color. Great work by @coolhand20 and company. pic.twitter.com/AwjVWfrG2O
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) September 9, 2019
Viewers immediately took to Twitter to complain about the graphic because, being bright yellow, it had everyone thinking there was a penalty on a play when there wasn’t.
ESPN needs to change the yellow graphic on the bottom right of the screen. I keep thinking it’s a flag. Whose idea was this?
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) September 9, 2019
Why doesn’t ESPN stick to the red graphics? The yellow is god awful and makes me think there’s a flag on every play.
— Jesse Finver (@JfinverSports12) September 9, 2019
To the network’s credit, ESPN took the real-time criticism in stride and changed the graphic by the time the second half started.
Breaking: ESPN is switching away from the new Down-And-Distance graphic it debuted in the first half of Monday Night Football. ESPN heard the fans’ feedback and acted, quick.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 10, 2019
Our ESPN production team is aware of the feedback on the #MNF down and distance graphic. We have called an audible and adjusted for the 2nd half of #HOUvsNO and for the #DENvsOAK game to follow. New look pictured here. pic.twitter.com/SWLKKuW87w
— bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) September 10, 2019
That was a smart move because keeping the annoying graphic up could have overshadowed what was otherwise a great product and the best primetime game of the week by far.
The Saints ended up winning 30-28 on a last-second field goal by place-kicker Will Lutz from 58 yards out.
WILL LUTZ 58 YARDS CALLS GAME💪
What a crazy ending pic.twitter.com/OQMcSuCeuc— BettorIQ (@BettorIQ) September 10, 2019
Editor’s Note: RealClearLife, a news and lifestyle publisher, is now a part of InsideHook. Together, we’ll be covering current events, pop culture, sports, travel, health and the world. Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
